No overloaded vehicle to be allowed on motorways: Abdul Aleem Khan

ISLAMABAD, Aug 08 (APP): Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Saturday assured goods transporters that their genuine concerns would be addressed on priority, while making it clear that no overloaded vehicle would be allowed to enter the motorways under the axle load policy.

The minister expressed these views during a video-link meeting with office-bearers of the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance, during which issues relating to axle load limits, relevant SROs, heavy vehicles on motorways and other concerns of the goods transportation sector were discussed in detail, said a press release.

Aleem Khan emphasized that transporters must cooperate in protecting motorways and national highways and should refrain from carrying weight beyond the prescribed limits.

The minister assured the representatives that all legitimate demands of the goods transport sector would be addressed on a priority basis. He also invited a delegation of goods transporters to Islamabad on Monday for a detailed meeting on their concerns.

Abdul Aleem Khan further stated that the Motorway Police would be made corruption-free within one month. He directed the Inspector General of Motorway Police to ensure that no official involved in taking bribes or any form of corruption remains in the department.

He said that motorways and national highways are a national asset, adding that it was encouraging that transport owners had expressed their support for the Government’s axle load policy. “If we work together, we can protect the country’s road infrastructure,” he added.

The minister said that every problem could be resolved if the intentions were sincere. “If we do not sit together and discuss our issues, how can we move forward?” he remarked.

He further stated that officials found involved in corruption would not only be dismissed but criminal cases would also be registered against them. He assured the representatives that the genuine concerns of Mazda Operators and 10-Wheelers would also be resolved on a priority basis.

Addressing the representatives of the All Pakistan Goods Transporters’ Alliance, Abdul Aleem Khan said that everyone must work together in the national interest. He made it clear that not a single overloaded vehicle would be allowed to enter the Motorways.

The Federal Minister said that implementation of the axle load policy would begin immediately and that black sheep involved in malpractices would be removed from the system. He urged goods transporters not to resort to extreme measures and instead adopt the path of dialogue while keeping the national interest in view.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary Communications, Inspector General Motorway Police, Transport Secretaries of all four provinces and other relevant officials.

Representatives of various goods transport organizations briefed Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan on the problems faced by the transport sector. The meeting was attended by Shabbir Malik, Owais Chaudhry, Chaudhry Maqbool, Muhammad Baloch, Chaudhry Shahid, Haji Nawaz, Nasir Hussain Jafri, Mirza Nasiruddin, Adeel Abbasi and other representatives of the goods transportation sector. Malik Sher Awan, Iftikhar Butt, Malik Shifaullah and Nadeem Afzal also expressed their views during the meeting.

All participants appreciated and strongly endorsed Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan’s axle load policy and assured the support in future, as well.